Rules and Procedures

Entry Deadlines: Each tournament has a deadline associated with it, which can be found on each tournament site. The deadline is established in order to confirm our reservations with the golf course, order awards, and set up tee times for the event. Receipt of an entry form does not guarantee acceptance into the event. Acceptance into a TGF tournament is on a first come, first served basis. Once a tournament field is full, you will be put on a waiting list for that tournament. We will process your payment if you are put on a waiting list. You will be contacted immediately if a spot becomes available, and we do contact people on the waiting list up until the day before the tournament. Entries received after the stated deadlines are subject to a $25 late entry fee. The deadline for most tournaments is 15 days prior to the event.

Refund Policy:

All funds less a $25 processing fee will be refunded when you withdraw 12 or more days from the start of a tournament. If you withdraw inside 12 days you are subject to "no refund" or a partial tour credit that can be used for any tournament. Some golf courses require us to sign a contract and we must produce an accurate count of players way before the tournament begins. If we show up with less players, we may be obligated to pay for the number of players we sent them days in advance. Each event is different and we will work with you as close as we can. We will not refund for weather related shortened tournaments. We will not do a partial refund for withdrawing from the second day. If we start a tournament with 80 players and only seventy show up the next day we are obligated to pay for 80.

Age:

A player meets our age requirement so long as he or she is of nineteen years of age or younger and has not entered college as a full-time student. Once a player enters college they are no longer eligible to play junior tournaments.

All players are assigned a division by their high school graduation year. Our tour season starts after our Tour Championship Tournament held in late May. Middle School and 11 under players can continue to play in the summer events in the same division until August 15 except for Players in the 11 under division. Players who turned 12 years old on or before May 30, must move to the middle school division after our Tour Championship Tournament.

Invitational Events:Invitational events have restricted fields. When a player receives an invitation to play in these events, they must respond within a specified time period. If a player fails to respond within the specified time, his or her invitation is withdrawn by the committee and it is extended to another player.

Ranked Events:All of our fields are ranked by Junior Golf Scoreboard and the TYGA. Tournaments that meet the criteria of the AJGA and SCJGA will be recognized by these organizations.

Practice Rounds:Practice rounds are not supplied by the TGF for any tournaments. You must call the golf course and secure your own tee times. Some courses may offer you a discounted rate if you identify yourself as a TGF member. Refer to the tournament information on the internet for the advertised practice round price for juniors and adults. Pay the golf course the day of the practice round. Do not pay the TGF for practice rounds.

Tee Times and Starting Times: Tee times will be posted on the organization website 48 hours prior to the event. You can confirm your event registration online at www.tarheelgolf.org. If your travel plans necessitate knowing your tee time earlier than 4 days before the tournament, you may call TGF Headquarters at 919-291-5813 for your tee time. Sunday tee times will be available after completion of play on Saturday. Starting Times: Rule 6-3a of the USGA Rules of Golf provides: "the player shall start at the time laid down by the Committee." The penalty for breach of Rule 6-3a is disqualification. However, it is a condition of the competition that, if players arrive at their starting point, ready to play, within five minutes after their starting time, in the absence of circumstances which warrant waiving the penalty of disqualification as provided in Rule 33-7, the penalty for failure to start on time is two strokes at the first hole in stroke play or loss of hole in match play instead of disqualification.

Registration at the Event: All players should check in at the TGF registration table at least 40 minutes prior to his/her designated tee time on both Saturday and Sunday. The player (not your parent) must register.

Inclement Weather Policy:The intent of the TGF is to play all competitions as scheduled. Any decisions regarding weather delays and/or cancellations will be made on-site the day of each event by the TGF Tournament Staff in conjunction with the Golf Course Superintendent, the golf course Professionals and current weather forecasts. No make-ups are available. The TGF is not responsible for the weather and everything possible is done to complete an event, even if we have to reduce the number of holes of a stipulated round. There are no refunds for weather related shortened tournaments.

Playoffs and Order of Finish:Playoffs for medalist honors will be determined by sudden death playoff whenever possible. If a golf course playoff is not possible, a "putting green playoff" will be held. Each player will chip 2 balls, select the best one and putt. Low score wins. If tied after the 1st hole, the procedure will be repeated only once. If still tied, the players will hit one shot and the closest ball wins. Playoffs will begin immediately after your entire division scores are posted. All players involved should be at the putting green within 10 minutes of the last score being posted in the division. The penalty for not showing up within this time limit results in the loss of the playoff. If bad weather or darkness does not permit the above procedure or neither player is present, then there will be a scorecard playoff as recommended by the USGA. (Whenever there has to be a scorecard playoff for an awards position, the points will be split equally). The TGF procedure will be to start matching cards starting on the 18th hole or last hole finished (if shortened due to weather, etc.) and working backwardsat to #1 adding three holes at a time. If due to a shotgun start and both players never played the same holes then the winner will be determined by the score relative to par going backwards three holes at a time. If the matching of scorecards does not produce a winner then the players involved will remain tied and both will receive the same award and points. On the putting green the cup that goes into the holes sometimes is half the depth of the regulation cups on the course and is not set with the lip of the cup 1" deep. This at times will cause a ball that has been hit in the hole to jump out. The TGF's policy is that if this happens the ball is not holed. See definition of HOLED in rules book. Ties for positions other than medalist will be determined by scorecard playoff to determine the recipient of awards.

Tournament Awards:Awards will be given to players in each division for first place, second and third place finishes. In the event of ties, award recipients will be determined according to TGF playoff provisions.

No Cards, No Shows & Withdrawals:Players that fail to show up for an event (No Show) and those that don't turning a scorecard (No card) or those that withdraw after play has begun inconvenience other players and keep other players from participating in some events. Players that don't show up for a tournament without notifying TGF Headquarters (NS), players that play in a tournament and don't turn in a scorecard (NC) and players that withdraw without a valid medical excuse will have a score of 100 used to calculate their scoring averages for that event. The TGF reserves the right to place offenders at the bottom of priority listings for future tournament entries. Extenuating circumstances and unique situations will be evaluated on an individual basis.

Discontinuance of Play:In the event that weather conditions warrant the suspension of play Rule 6-8b applies. Rule 6-8b details the procedure for discontinuance of play. The penalty for a breach of Rule 6-8b is disqualification. However, it is a condition of the competition that, in potentially dangerous situations, play shall be discontinued immediately following a suspension of play by the Committee. If a player fails to discontinue play immediately, he shall be disqualified unless circumstances warrant waiving such penalty as provided in Rule 33-7. An immediate suspension of play will be signaled by a prolonged note of Tarheel Golf Foundation the siren. You have the right to stop play if you think lightning threatens you, even though the Committee may not have specifically authorized it by signal.

The TGF generally uses the following signals:

Discontinue Play Immediately: 1 prolonged note of siren. You must not play any more shots.

Discontinue Play: 3 consecutive notes of siren, repeated. You may finish the hole you are playing.

Resume Play: 2 short notes of siren, repeated. You must resume play.

Caddies and Spectator Carts: The 11 under division may always have a caddie! All other players are required to walk and carry their own clubs, or may use a pull cart if the course allows. Caddies are not permitted (except.for special events.) Riding carts are used by volunteers to shuttle the players from greens to tees when deemed appropriate by the committee, transport beverages, control speed of play. Spectators may rent carts through the golf course pro shop, provided that the course allows spectator carts. If a course does not allow use of spectator carts, that decision is final. All carts must stay on cart paths. Please read the caddie rules under the Tournament Info Tab.

Equipment Conformity:It is the players' responsibility to assure that his/her equipment conforms to USGA rules. The TGF supports the USGA regarding its definition of conforming equipment. If you have any doubt as to your equipment's conformity, contact the USGA. 1-908-234-2300 www.usga.org (Equipment Section), USGA United States Golf Association

Distance Measuring Devices:Range finders and distance measuring devices that are approved by the USGA for tournament play are allowed during TGF tournaments. Penalty for using a non conforming device is disqualification.

Players' Appearance & Behavior:Tarheel Golf Foundation Player appearance and behavior is addressed in the Tarheel Golf Foundation's Code of Conduct. It is every player's responsibility to be familiar with and abide by the established code of conduct. Penalty for breach can lead to suspension of playing privilege. This Code of Conduct is available online at www.tarheelgolf.org.

Rules Sheet:Read the rules sheet prior to play. Direct any questions to the committee!

USGA rules will apply.

Play the ball DOWN unless otherwise specified on a rules addendum.

Embedded ball "relief through the green"

The TGF "Code of Conduct" policy will be enforced.

Slow Play: A Player will be subject to penalty if he/she delays play or contributes to causing his/her group to delay (Rule 6-7 Delay).

Questions: (Doubt as to Procedure, Rule 3-3) (a): Procedure: In stroke play only, when during play of a hole a competitor is doubtful of his rights or procedure, he may, without penalty, play a second ball. After the situation which caused the doubt has arisen, the competitor should, before taking further action, announce to his marker or a fellow competitor his decision to invoke this Rule and the ball with which he will score if the Rules permit. The competitor shall report the facts to the Committee before returning his scorecard even if he scores the same with both balls; if he fails to do so, he shall be disqualified. Note: A second ball played under Rule 3-3 is not a provisional ball under Rule 27-2.

Stroke Limit: Age ten and under on the Future Stars Tour maximum stroke limit, per hole, is 8. There is no stroke limit on the last hole. If event is a junior world qualification, an 8 stroke limit applies to players 7-12 years old. The Tarheel Junior Tour never has a stoke limit!

Caddies and riding carts are not permitted on the Tarheel Junior Tour but may be used on the Future Star tour for 8 and under players.

Scorecard: Immediately after play, go to the scorecard signing table (the table and chairs are the scoring area, decisions rule 6-6 c/1), check your scorecard and make sure it is correct HOLE BY HOLE and it is legible before signing it and leaving the scoring area. Have your MARKER sign it and then turn it in. Stay at the scorecard table until your score has been added. Go to the scoreboard and make sure it is posted.

Drop Circles: Water hazards that must have a shot hit over them may have a drop circle on the other side. Use of a drop circle is not mandatory. They are merely an available option.

Scorekeeping: Prior to teeing off, sign the scorecard you are keeping as MARKER. This may help eliminate any problems that may occur at the scoreboard.

Spikes: Only soft spikes can be used at TGF events.

Pace of Play:The Tarheel Golf Foundation has a target time of 4.5 hours or less to complete tournament rounds. All players are expected to maintain pace with the players in front of them. When a group falls behind the group in from the entire field suffers from the slow play of that one group. Slow play can not be tolerated and when appropriate offenders will be penalized in accordance with USGA rules.

When a group is notified for that it is out of position, you will be timed. When a player reaches his ball, he will have 45 seconds from that time to play the shot. If the player fails to play within 45 seconds will be told he has a bad time and will receive a 2 stroke penalty. If the player remains out of position, the result will be disqualification. The disqualified player will be taken off the golf course and returned to the clubhouse.

Here are some scenarios involving pace of play:

Problem: Three players in different groups hit shots into a lot of trouble and don't hit provisional balls. They searched for 5 minutes and don't find their balls. They have to walk back 250 yards to put another ball into play. This could add as much as 30 minutes to the finishing time for the last group in a field of 120 players.

Solution: Everyone should watch each other's shots and on wayward shots, stare at them until they stop. If you don't see it and it may be lost or out of bounds, play a provisional ball. Pick out a landmark and walk straight toward the spot. If you find the original ball and it is not out of bounds you must abandon the provisional ball.

Problem: All the players in a foursome shoot 90 each. Normally they take 4 ½ hours to play their round. On this particular day, each player takes an extra 10 seconds per shot. Here's the Result:

By waiting 10 seconds per shot, per player their round turned into 5 ½ hours!

Solution: Practice your pace of play and make it as consistent as your swing and you will never hear these 4 dreaded words on the golf course – "You're on the clock!" This could ruin your round. Again, remember golf is a game we play by choice. Have fun, make new friends, pay attention to your fellow competitors and your surroundings and enjoy the process of learning from all the changes that take place in tour and tournament golf. You will become a much better player and person by doing this.